“Sounds perfect,” he says, nuzzling my neck and kissing his way across my jaw.
“I thought so too.”
He pulls back and looks into my eyes. “And that gives you enough time? To get everything planned, just the way you want it? Every time I’ve asked these last two weeks, you’ve been a little indecisive.”
“I know. That’s partly because you’ve been recuperating, and I didn’t want to add more stress to the situation. Then I realized, as long as I have you at the end of the aisle, that’s all I want.”
“You, baby. That’s all I want too. Well, you and our child,” he adds, placing his big, warm hand on my flat stomach.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I turn and straddle his waist. “I can’t wait to live this life we’re creating. Together.” I can feel the hardness of his cock returning to full attention and wiggle against it like a cat in heat.
“Together.” He kisses me hard on the lips, his tongue delving deep into my mouth. “I can’t fucking wait, baby. Our story is just starting.”
“We’re just getting started,” I confirm. Chase fumbles with my weight, but easily picks me up and wobbles to the stairs. “Put me down, right now!”
“No way. I’m able to apply a little weight,” he says until he reaches the stairs. “But you’ll have to help me get up the stairs.” The look on his face is pure dejection as he realizes he’s still a long way from 100 percent.
“A little weight does not mean carrying me over the threshold.” Or up the stairs. Whatever.
“But the good news is my cast should be off right before the wedding. I’ll be able to carry you over the threshold properly as man and wife.” His eyes dance with excitement. “In my moonboot.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Me neither, baby. But right now, I need to get you in bed and show you exactly how ready I am to be your husband.”
“Then take me to bed,” I instruct as we hobble up the stairs. Chase then proceeds to show me exactly how excited he is to be my husband. Through the good and the bad, we’re in this life together.
Forever.EpilogueChase* * *Harrison and I are sitting at a picnic table that somehow my mother and mother-in-law were able to fancy up for the day’s festivities. Neither one of us are talking as we watch our wives dance with Sophia, passing her back and forth.
My wife.
“Has it set in yet?” Harrison laughs.
“Yes and no. I mean obviously, we said our vows and I kissed my bride, but damn, it’s hard to believe she’s mine. That they’re both mine.” My eyes to go Gabby’s still flat stomach. It does something to me, that underneath that white dress is the smallest of baby bumps where our son or daughter grows.
“Welcome to the club.” He laughs.
“It’s been a rough few months, but it’s all worked out in the end.”
“Yeah, thanks for hiring Colt.”
“He’s good, with his military background he’s a machine when it comes to training. He’s good for All Fit.”
“The ladies seem to love him.” It’s true. My older brother has taken a lot of the ladies’ attention away from me and Harrison, and we couldn’t be happier about it. There is only one woman in my life. Well, unless we have a baby girl.
We settle into a comfortable silence as we watch them laughing and dancing as if no one is watching. They can pretend we’re not, but they know the truth. Both of them know better than to think they could be anywhere within our line of sight and not gather our full attention. Harrison welcomed me to the club, and as I look down at the wedding band on my left hand, I can’t help but take a deep breath. She’s mine. All these years I wanted her, craved her, and now, here today, she carries my last name, and my baby.
Does life get any better than this?
“It does,” Harrison replies, and I realize I spoke the words aloud. “I want a house full.”
“Yeah?” I act surprised, but we all knew this was coming. Harrison and Gwen have made no secret since finding out about Sophia that building their family is priority. I’m happy for them.
“I want as many as she’ll give me. I’m not going to lie, parenting is hard, but, man, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, aside from fighting for my wife.”
“I can imagine it gets harder as they get older.” I think about little Sophia and when she starts to date. Her daddy and I will be there to scare any boy brave enough to take her out.
“Yeah, I’m sure it does, but so worth it.”
“I’m counting down the days,” I admit. “I’d gotten used to the fact that I was a father.” I swallow hard. “You know, with Milo. I’d accepted it and was ready for it, but it was all taken away. I’m glad things worked out like they did, that he’s still in our family and he brought my brother home. I’m not sure anything else ever would have accomplished that.”